# Initiate a New Chat

You can initiate a Chat with a customer if you have added their contact in Gallabox or you can add a contact and then send the customer a WhatsApp Template. 

{% hint style="info" %}
You can only use [WhatsApp Templates](https://docs.gallabox.com/basic-modules/whatsapp-template-guidelines) to initiate a conversation with a customer. 
{% endhint %}

**Prefer a visual explanation?** Watch the video below.

{% embed url="<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPR5uVsUQbA>" %}

**Prefer a written explanation?** Read the text below.

## Initiate chat with Customers in 4 ways

### Start Chat with Saved Contact in Gallabox Conversations

Follow the below steps to start a chat with the saved contact.&#x20;

1. From the dashboard, go to "**Conversations**".&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://3137140735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZcl3T6ePz95GpzjAeOLW%2Fuploads%2FrQZd3qZHLfYUuXbBp1oS%2FConversation%20in%20Gallabox.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=3cb98e7e-2d1b-4d0b-916e-619e1abb7604" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

2. Click on <img src="broken-reference" alt="" data-size="line"> to choose the contact you want to start the conversation with. Once you select the contact, the chat window will open.&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://3137140735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZcl3T6ePz95GpzjAeOLW%2Fuploads%2FtU5e2Blx2fMhstv0bK0o%2FSelect%20a%20Contact.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=0376ad14-bfa7-4a71-8883-e12380abdcdf" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

3. To start a chat with this contact, select a pre-approved template that you would want to send to the contact, fill variables and click send.

<figure><img src="https://3137140735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZcl3T6ePz95GpzjAeOLW%2Fuploads%2FpFs3TsFX0P0o6OtYoPgX%2FSelect%20Template%20Message.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=739c86ab-345b-41bb-9482-9073a529e9d2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Send WhatsApp Template to Unsaved Contact in Gallabox

If you want to send a message to a contact which is not yet saved on Gallabox, you can *create a contact* and then send a WhatsApp Template as a first Interaction.&#x20;

Follow the GIF below:&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://3137140735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZcl3T6ePz95GpzjAeOLW%2Fuploads%2FR9ivnMXgn8UGWcymIcqD%2FCreate%20Contact%20in%20Conversations.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=54483f4d-ee71-4eb7-a356-8bd6bca5f41a" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Individually Send Text to Gallabox Contact

If you individually want to send a text to a contact (*while you are scrolling your contacts in Gallabox*), you can send it by clicking on <img src="https://3137140735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZcl3T6ePz95GpzjAeOLW%2Fuploads%2FWmbxB73TEpaZReoTmSOW%2FConversation-report-view.png?alt=media&#x26;token=38660410-8000-470f-9e43-610e8edcf81d" alt="" data-size="line">as shown in the GIF below:&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://3137140735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZcl3T6ePz95GpzjAeOLW%2Fuploads%2FPP7ucthAG5SN0tHT1Gdf%2FSend%20a%20Message%20to%20a%20contact.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=e5fc533b-d545-42b1-a016-feee330a6e03" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Responding to the customer's message

When a customer sends you a message, you can instantly respond and engage in a chat conversation.

<figure><img src="https://3137140735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZcl3T6ePz95GpzjAeOLW%2Fuploads%2FFs514m5fptj7K1Yx2xAg%2Fwhen%20a%20customer%20sends%20you%20a%20message.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=464fe564-21ca-4031-9929-003e65982dfc" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>